Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-07-22
SNAKES IN DAKOTA.


Is story Probably as True as the Aver
"a correspondent of The Dakota Bell
writes: 81: 81
I understand that you publish acc.
counts Of snakes met with in the terri
tory when they are sent to you.
hereby send you the true story Of
peculiar snake { saw three or four
weeks ago.
I was going from my place, few
miles from here, to q neigh boris to see
about q corn cultivator he had bor-
rowed Of me. / took short cut and
was on the side Of bluff facing the
river the Missouri I was going near
some small trees when heard pc
euliar noise. First I thought it was the
distant ringing of church-bells, but I
soon remembered that that was inn
possible. i stopped and listened, and
soon saw that it seemed to proceed
from the little grove. / next thought
that it might be an Indian concealed
there playing on some musical instru-
ment, though it did not seem hardly
probable. / made up my mind to find
out, anyhow.
I went over to the grove and walked
among the trees. soon came to some
low bushes and noticed that the noise
seemed to come from al open place
beyond them. dropped on my knees.
On a small stump and looked through.
At first couldn't see anything. i
looked little longer and thought I
saw a snakes head turned away from
me. My first thought was to 60 ahead
and kill the snake, but l was afraid of
disturbing whatever it was that was
making the music, so waited. / could
see nothing else, though l crept part
way around the open place. rose up
and started to 60 on through, thinking
rs could see nothing that the noise
must come from beyond. was just
taking the first step when my eyes fell
Oh the snake again, and 1 thought I
noticed something peculiar. stopped
and looked closely. The snake was not
more than five yards away from me,
and it's head was now sideways to me.
then saw that the snake was what
produced the music. Its head was ele-
vated a little above the top of the grass,
which was at that time some four or
five inches high. Its neck was bent
over so that its head was horizontal.
An inch or so in front of it's mouth
appeared to be a small twig, or at
least something with thin, slender
point about five inches long on it,
pointed straight toward the, snakes
mouth, which was opened a little. On
this flat point, which looked some like
the end of reed, the snake was blow
ing and producing the music I had
heard.
l remained very still and watched it
closely. 1t played a regular melody.
1t was not loud, but sweet. hardly
know what instrument it sounded like,
though it reminded me of mouth
organ some, only it was better music
than I ever heard on morgan.
1t seemed to be produced much On the
same principle of ! mouth organ, but
how the different tones were made was
a mystery. kept watching and listen
ing for long time, but my curiosity
got the best of me at last. tried to
get a little nearer. when the snake
heard me and started to dart away. I
seized upon part of dry limb and
struck at it, intending to stun it and
secure it alive if possible. I struck too
nard, and soon saw that had killed it.
I Strengthened it out and found it to
be only about three feet long. Its body
was round and dark-colored. Its neck
was somewhat pulled out, probably by
the blowing. Its head was small and
mouth rather peculiar. had looked
at it some time before noticed it's tail
When I did so I can truly say that I
was astonished. The reed-like point it
had been playing on was the tip of its
own tail.
For nearly six inches this tail was
dat, like a reed and was composed of
something which appeared to be thin
bone. 1t could be drawn in OR thrust
out exactly like the sting of wasp,
and when-I noticed this peculiarly I
instantly knew that it varied the tone
from one note to another by lengthen-
ing or shortening this reed. do not
know whether it was making the music
wholly for it's own amusement or to at
tract its mate. I would give 800 if I
had captured it alive.
I think everybody will admit that lit
is very peculiar snake. No one around
here ever heard of any of the kind ex-
cept my hired man, who claims he
has. After I went home and told my
story, he said that he once saw one
near Grand river in Missouri. He said
that when he ran across it it was lying
on large flat stone playing the tune
of the ..Arkansaw Traveller while
.rattlesnake was coiled up near by, keep
ing time with the rattles on his tail. I
don't believe the story, as [ have found
him very unreliable in other things.
Besides he claims that he used to know
Jessie and Frank James. think he in
vented his story, simply to make fun Of
what said.
What have told above is the honest
truth and not exaggerated a bit. OF
course J. do not know whether there
are many others in the country or not
l have the reed off the tail of this one
and anyone who doesn't believe it can
see it. Yours sincerely.
Mnan Alyaufa ora